Since 2017, Team Your Kid’s Next Read has shown up week in, week out, to help the members of our community answer one question:
“What should my child read next?”
It’s the question that lies at the heart of every podcast episode we create, every newsletter article we write and every discussion we have at conferences, writers’ festivals, online and in playgrounds.
It’s a question that looks simple but is, at heart, deeply complex.
Because we know it’s not easy to raise a reader – and we know that it takes a village.
The YKNR community comes to us to help get their young readers started, they come to keep them going, and they come because their kids won’t stop reading and they’re desperately trying to keep up.
Perhaps they have a young reader who can’t find anything ‘as good’ as a book they’ve fallen in love with.
Perhaps they’re bewildered by the array of books on offer and don’t know where to begin.
Maybe their child is reading the same book over and over and they don’t know how to ‘move them on’.
Or perhaps they are educators looking for quality recommendations to support individual readers or teacher-librarians supporting classroom teachers in their endeavours.
Your Next Read makes it easier to meet the challenges
Over nearly a decade of observing, assisting and advising, one thing became clear to us:
The challenge is not a shortage of good books, it’s finding the right ‘good book’ for your kid at the right time.
And then finding the next one after that.
Which is why, in collaboration with Affirm Press/Simon & Schuster, we created the Your Next Read series, a carefully curated, easily identifiable series of quality Australian stories by Australian creators for Australian kids.
Your Next Read is designed to help young readers identify the story elements they love, through the inclusion of simple icons. The pathway through the Your Next Read series teaches them the skills they need to self-select their next ‘favourite book’ from a wide range – and beyond.
And it’s designed to help the adults in their lives ensure a steady supply of ‘next reads’ is always at hand.
When children read widely, they build vocabulary, comprehension, general knowledge and empathy. When they read for pleasure, they seamlessly pick up critical and creative thinking skills – and discover a joy that will be with them for life.
But becoming a lifelong reader is a choice. It means always choosing to pick up the next book.
Your Next Read helps to make that choice easier.
Introducing the Your Next Read Silver Series launch titles
And now the first four titles in our Silver series (for readers 5+) are here.
‘The Missing Pencil Case’ by Jasmin McGaughey and Jade Goodwin
Do you like MYSTERY, FAMILY and FUNNY STORIES?
Then this book is YOUR NEXT READ!
Lea has lost her pencil case. It’s full of money she has collected for charity! Lea must search all over her apartment block for the missing pencil case. Where could it be?
‘The Lonely Lunch Club’ by Maddy Mara and Laura Stitzel
Do you like FRIENDS, SCHOOL and FUNNY STORIES?
Then this book is YOUR NEXT READ.
One lunchtime, Benji goes to the worst bench in the whole school instead of playing footy. There he meets a girl named Alice and a spider named Mabel. And Mabel needs their help! But can Benji and Alice do it alone?
‘Bea, Bart And The Birds’ by Katrina Nannestad and Cheryl Orsini
Do you like ANIMALS, FAMILY and SURPRISING STORIES?
Then this book is YOUR NEXT READ!
It all starts with Boo, the owl. Bea and Bart take her home and love her. Soon, they have a feathered family! But Bea and Bart are not the only ones interested in these unusual birds …
‘Will Fin Win?’ by Jane Goodman and Tom Jellett
Do you like ANIMALS, SPORT and FRIENDS?
Then this book is YOUR NEXT READ.
Fin never wins anything. On school sports day, a naughty puppy stops Fin from coming first in his race. Will Fin ever win? Or will he learn that there are more important things than medals?
SEE ALL YOUR NEXT READ TITLES HERE
Want to know more?
Subscribe to the Your Kid’s Next Read newsletter for updates as new titles are released
